The Public Engagement Unit runs the Engage Grants.
The 2026/2027 edition of the Engage & Involve Grants is a funding call for researchers at the University of Bath to involve people in their research in a meaningful way and/or engage them with their research.
The aim of this funding call is to build connections between wider society and University of Bath research by involving or engaging people in research in a meaningful way.
In 2026/2027 we have a total of 拢25,000 available for this funding call.
Public Involvement and Engagement with 69色情片
High-quality public involvement and engagement enables people to discover, use, discuss, participate in, and even create research in ways that matter to them. It should generate mutual benefit, helping both your research and the people involved achieve their goals.
Engagement can happen at any stage of the research cycle, and even after a project ends to sustain relationships. Activities vary by discipline and may include approaches like Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE), Participatory 69色情片, Deliberative Democracy, or Citizen Science, but they share common features:
They relate to specific research.
They involve people outside academia in ways that allow choice and agency.
They are relevant to publics鈥 interests, needs, and goals.
They benefit both the public and your research.
We are interested in funding a portfolio of projects across the research life cycle and welcome applications from across the broad spectrum of public involvement and engagement with research. We would be particularly keen to support applications that connect with the PEU鈥檚 2026-9 strategic priorities. These include Upstream Engagement (UE) and Responsible 69色情片 and Innovation (RRI). We are also encouraging applicants this year to embrace risk in their engagement and involvement proposals.
Upstream Engagement (UE) is the process of working with individuals and communities outside research prior to applying for research funding, and before the research question(s) and methodologies are defined, to shape what research is needed and how it will be conducted. It can involve identifying questions, developing materials, or collaborating as co-researchers, helping bridge the gap between research institutions and society and making research more relevant and impactful.
We encourage applications that are about shaping future research that is speculative, exploratory, building first connections, getting to know new communities, and laying strong foundations to become 鈥渞esearch-ready鈥. Good upstream engagement does not start by asking 鈥淗ow can we do this research well together鈥 but 鈥渨hat research might we do together and how鈥, or creating citizen juries to explore how they feel about new emerging technologies and what they might mean for how they are used and by whom.
Responsible 69色情片 and Innovation (RRI) is a collective responsibility shared by funders, researchers, stakeholders, corporations, governments, and the public. It goes beyond risk and regulation to ensure research and innovation align with societal values, needs, and expectations, while addressing grand societal challenges. RRI seeks to:
Anticipate and avoid unintended negative impacts of research and innovation.
Reduce barriers to dissemination, adoption, and diffusion.
Maximize positive societal and economic benefits.
A key outcome of these grants work is to inform your understanding of Responsible 69色情片 and Innovation and how it applies to and influences your research practices.
We encourage applications that are future focused and collaborative. These should bring diverse voices together to consider not only what research will achieve, but how it will shape the future, for better or worse.
Embracing Thoughtful Risk
The Public Engagement Unit is sector-leading in its iterative and reflexive approach. We believe in innovation, experimentation, reflection, and taking risks. Over time, we鈥檝e seen researchers鈥 confidence in engagement and involvement grow, and many tried-and-tested, impactful models are available. Just as in research design, your methodology should be the most appropriate to achieve your goals - not everything needs to be new or reinvented.
However, unlike more risk-averse funders, we have the freedom to welcome applications that are uncertain and experimental. We therefore welcome applications that may not be funded through any other grant scheme due to the level of risk taking. While no activity should put anyone at risk, we encourage applicants to try something new, even with a high level of uncertainty, provided all involved are treated ethically and equitably. Failure is part of the iterative process of innovation, and we believe reducing the pressure for constant success allows us to learn more interesting and useful things.
Other things to consider
We expect all applications to consider and align to the University鈥檚 goals for sustainability and EDI.
We recognise that researchers approach public involvement and engagement with research with varying levels of confidence, and that emerging frameworks such as RRI and UE demand fresh perspectives and new skills. We therefore welcome applications that identify skills gaps and propose ways to address them, whether through targeted training or external collaborations, provided these efforts are integrated into a clear and cohesive engagement delivery plan.
Funding available
The total funding available for the鈥疎ngage & Involve Grants 2026鈥痠s 拢25,000, and we are looking to fund various activities of different scales. There are three levels of funding available:鈥
Small 鈥 four grants of up to 拢1,000鈥
Medium 鈥 four grants of up to 拢3,500鈥
Large 鈥 one grant of up to 拢7,000鈥
What we're looking to fund
We are interested in funding activities that鈥痠mprove the connections between鈥痳esearch and society.鈥疻e will not fund work that covers basic research needs but are looking for proposals that extend or enrich your research and skill sets.
Here are鈥痵ome examples to illustrate鈥痺hat we mean by鈥痶his:鈥
creating a pop-up stall in pharmacies in Bath to find out from pharmacy users what medicine safety issues are important to them to inform a research agenda鈥
working with a group of young people to develop a resource for their peers to raise awareness about a key research outcome from a project on sexual health鈥
working with people with brain injuries such as stroke to co-design and prototype an exercise game (exergame) for movement rehabilitation鈥
engaging farmers, local authorities, and NGOs in scenario-building exercises to guide research directions on climate resilience strategies. (UE)
convening a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to understand, challenge, and change factors limiting the diversity of clinical trials (UE)
utilise a role-playing game (RPG) that helps citizens and researchers explore and respond to speculative futures of emerging technologies (RRI)
This is鈥痭ot an鈥痚xhaustive鈥痩ist,鈥痑nd activities are not limited to these examples as they are for illustrative purposes only.鈥
Before you consider applying for an鈥疎ngage and Involve鈥疓rant,鈥痺e鈥檇鈥痩ike you to鈥痶hink about鈥痶he purpose of your activity. We are using鈥痶his鈥痑dapted version of the鈥疘nternational鈥疉ssociation of Public Participation Spectrum of Public Participation as a guide to help you consider the purpose of your activity.鈥
Who can apply
This call is open to staff members in the 69色情片 & Education and Technical & Experimental job families (any discipline or career stage) and doctoral students.鈥
Doctoral students must secure permission from their supervisor(s) to apply for this award.鈥
We welcome applications from all Faculties and the School.鈥
Assessment criteria
We aim to fund a portfolio of different types of activities across the spectrum of public participation, from across the three Faculties and the School, at different stages of the research cycle and level of experience of involvement and engagement of those applying.
We aim to fund a portfolio of鈥痙ifferent types鈥痮f activities across the鈥痵pectrum of public participation, from across the鈥痶hree Faculties and the School,鈥痑t鈥痙ifferent stages鈥痮f the research cycle鈥痑nd鈥痩evel of experience of involvement and engagement鈥痮f those applying.鈥疻e anticipate three broad categories of applications:
Upstream Engagement (UE)
Responsible 69色情片 and Innovation (RRI)
Other PIER Approaches
The panel鈥痺ill be assessing鈥痑ll applications based on the following generic criteria. If an application is identified as UE or RRI, the panel will use the additional specific criteria.
The questions that follow each criterion鈥痑re indicative鈥痮f the types of questions the panel will be asking as they assess your proposal, you should not aim to answer the questions directly.鈥
How well does the proposal meet the aim of the Engage and Involve grants to build meaningful connections between wider society and University of Bath research?
Is there a clearly defined public or community, and does the proposal demonstrate how the proposed work is relevant to them?
Does the proposal demonstrate working with individuals or communities outside research to shape what research is done and how?
Does the proposal show mutual benefit and potential to lay strong foundations for future research?
Innovation, Risk, and Ethical Practice
Does the proposal demonstrate an innovative, experimental, and reflective approach?
Is there a clear rationale for any uncertainty or risk, and how will everyone be treated ethically and equitably?
Does the proposal show willingness to try something new even if it may not succeed because failure is recognised as part of the iterative process of learning and innovation?
Would this proposal likely not be funded elsewhere due to its level of risk-taking?
Feasibility
Is there a clear and realistic timeline and budget?
How is public involvement valued (e.g., funds allocated to community partners or contributors)?
Are resources and methods appropriate for the stated goals?
Connection to 69色情片
- Is there a clear and meaningful link between the proposed activity and the applicant鈥檚 research?
Reflection and Evaluation
How will the applicant reflect on and evaluate their experience and that of the people they involve or engage?
Have appropriate tools or approaches to evaluation identified?
Upstream Engagement
Is the research project already funded and underway?
Does the proposed work support the development of initial contact, relationship building, and explore future ways of working together?
Does the proposal aim to equalise power imbalances and enable the public to identify and influence research priorities, methodologies, and agenda setting?
Responsible 69色情片 and Innovation
Does the proposal align with societal values, needs, and expectations, and consider its role in addressing grand societal challenges?
Does it anticipate and avoid unintended negative impacts, reduce barriers to dissemination and adoption, and aim to maximize positive societal and economic benefits?
Is the proposal future-focused and collaborative, bringing diverse voices together to consider not only what the research will achieve but how it will shape the future for better or worse?
How to apply
Applicants need to fill in the Engage and Involve Grants application form.鈥
Engage and Involve Grants鈥2026鈥痑pplication form
If you need support filling out this form,鈥痶hen please feel free to drop us a line (public-engagement@bath.ac.uk) and we can complete this form together.鈥
Application forms must be emailed to鈥public-engagement@bath.ac.uk鈥痭o later than鈥4pm on鈥疐riday鈥27鈥疐ebruary 2026鈥痺ith 鈥楨ngage and Involve Grants鈥 in the subject line.鈥
Assessment process
If you have an idea for an鈥痑ctivity,鈥痶hen please come along to one of our information events.鈥
The Public Engagement Unit is hosting an鈥痠nformation session online and in-person on Thursday鈥12th鈥疐ebruary鈥2026鈥痑t 1pm.鈥疻e will also be hosting informal鈥痑dvice sessions.
In-person and online advice surgeries can be booked at any point during the application phase by using the following link
Applications will be reviewed by a panel made up of:鈥
Members of the Public Engagement Unit鈥痑nd鈥69色情片 & Innovation Services鈥
69色情片er who has recently completed work funded through a E&I Grant
Monica Greco鈥-鈥疕ead of鈥痶he Department of Social & Policy Studies, University of Bath.鈥
A community partner
A member of the Public Engagement Unit will be in touch as to the outcome of your application the week鈥痗ommencing the鈥16鈥疢arch鈥2026.鈥
Successful projects will be invited to a series of workshops aimed to help you get the most from your grant. You may want to hold the following dates and times in your diary.
Tuesday 7th April. 12:30 鈥 14:00. Getting Going - relationship, ways of working, finance
Thursday 9th April.12:30 鈥 14:00. Motion - time allocation and check ins
Tuesday 14th April. 12:30 鈥 14:00. Evaluation - how to identify and monitor
Thursday 6th April. 12:30 鈥 14:00. Ending well - wrapping up and next steps
Deadline
Completed鈥痑pplication鈥痜orms must be received by鈥4pm on鈥疐riday鈥27鈥疐ebruary 2026.鈥
Reporting
Successful applicants鈥痑re required to鈥痳eport on their鈥痩earning,鈥痮utcomes,鈥痑nd experiences to the Public Engagement Unit.鈥
We have a鈥痳eporting form we use but we are happy to accept鈥痑 project report鈥痠n a format that is鈥痑ppropriate to鈥痶he applicant and the project.鈥
We have found that projects of this scale usually take 6-12 months to develop and deliver. If you are planning a longer project, please make the case within your application.鈥
Key dates
Call opens 鈥 16th January 2026鈥
Information session 鈥 Thursday鈥12鈥疐ebruary鈥2026, 1pm鈥
Call closes 鈥 Friday鈥27鈥疐ebruary 2026, 4pm
Grant starts 鈥 April 2026
Midpoint review 鈥 Sept 2026
Reports due 鈥撯疢onday 1 March 2027